Wrestling wow: Gold for Vinesh, silver for Sakshi en route to Rio

Istanbul: Vinesh Phogat clinched a gold as she and Sakshi Malik on Saturday secured Rio Games berths in their respective weight divisions at the second World Olympic Qualifying tournament in a historic feat of two Indian women wrestlers qualifying for Olympics for the first time.

Vinesh Phogat

While Vinesh won a gold in 48kg category, Sakshi bagged a silver in 58kg class as they booked a Rio Games quota place each for the country. This is the first time two women wrestlers from India have qualified for the Olympics.

At 2012 London Games, Geeta Phogat was the lone Indian female grappler in the fray.

In fact, this is the first time that India will be represented in all three formats — Men’s freestyle, Female wrestling and Greco-Roman — at the Olympics.